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Best creatine supplements 001

The best creatine supplements 2026 – tried and tested

Published: October 20, 2026 at 3:19 PM

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This popular supplement is taken by gym-goers to help muscle bulking, as well as by performance athletes. Find out more and read our experts' review of the best products on the market

Creatine has been a gym-bag staple for years, but choosing one now means navigating far more than a plain scoop of powder. Your body makes creatine naturally, and you get small amounts from foods such as meat and fish. In muscles, it helps replenish ATP, the quick-use energy source for short, intense efforts. That’s why it’s popular with people who lift weights and athletes looking to maintain power across repeated bursts of exercise.

For our guide to the best creatine supplements, we tested straightforward products from familiar brands including Bulk, MyProtein and ESN, alongside more involved blends from Ancient + Brave, JSHealth and Warrior. Our selection of the best creatine products are easiest to find online, including through retailers such as iHerb and Healf.

There’s a lot of choice in format and formula, but creatine monohydrate remains the most studied type. Most products suggest taking 3g to 5g a day. Whether you choose an unflavoured powder, or a blend with added ingredients, comes down to what fits your routine; you don’t have to time it around your workout.

For more ways to support your health and fitness goals, see our reviews of the best protein powders and, if you follow a plant-based diet, the best vegan protein bars and best protein powders. Visit our review section for more health and fitness picks, including collagen powder and pre-workout.

Best creatine supplements at a glance

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How we tested creatine supplements

All supplements were tested in the same way: we prepared each creatine powder in accordance to the manufacturer's instructions, and recorded observations based on the in depth testing criteria by Good Food's health and fitness expert Laura Forsyth.

We included nutritionist-approved samples from various brands, offering diverse formats such as powders, tablets, capsules and gummies (though no gummies made it into our final list), with a range of price points to suit different budgets. The key areas we assessed were as follows:

Best creatine supplements to buy in 2026

Transparent Labs Creatine HMB

Available from Healf (£46.49), iHerb (£52.05)

Transparent Labs Creatine HMB

Best clean creatine powder

Price per day (recommended dose): £1.55

Star rating: 5/5

For a creatine supplement with added ingredients, Transparent Labs Creatine HMB combines 5g creatine monohydrate with 1.5g patented myHMB, 500IU vitamin D3 and 5mg BioPerine per serving. It comes as a powder with a one-scoop daily serving, and the directions suggest mixing it with cold water or another drink. The formula is third-party tested for purity and potency.

At £46.49 for 30 servings, it’s a premium-priced option compared with plain creatine powders. The first subscription order brings the cost down though.

Available from:

MOVE Pure Creatine Monohydrate Powder

Available from Move (£19.99), Amazon (£29.99)

MOVE Pure Creatine Monohydrate Powder

Best creatine powder for focus

Price per day (recommended dose): 33p

Star rating: 5/5

Unflavoured doesn’t have to mean boring. You can take this creatine plain, stir it into a smoothie or add extra flavoured supplements for a more interesting drink. I tried it in a shake and it mixed in well, with the neutral taste letting the other flavours come through.

It’s a versatile option if you like to change up how you take your supplements and, at around 33p per serving, it’s a good price for the quality.

Available from:

Prowise 100% Pure Creatine Monohydrate Powder

Available from Prowise Healthcare (£14.99), Amazon (£8.49), Holland & Barrett (£12.99)

Prowise 100% Pure Creatine Monohydrate Powder

Best-value creatine powder

Price per day (recommended dose): 10p

Star rating: 4.5/5

Prowise's unflavoured, vegan formula provides 3.6g of micronised creatine monohydrate per serving. The 360g pack contains around 100 servings, making it excellent value. It’s made in the UK under GMP standards and contains no listed fillers, colours, flavours or sweeteners.

One detail needs care: the directions describe a tablespoon as a 3.6g serving, but an ordinary tablespoon isn’t a reliable way to measure the dose. I ended up using digital scales or a trusted scoop for my supplements instead.

Available from:

Rheal Daily Hydration + Creatine

Available from Rheal (£35), Ocado (£35), Healf (£28)

Rheal Daily Hydration + Creatine

Price per sachet: £1.25

Star rating: 4.5

Best creatine powder for hydration

Combining creatine with electrolytes, this flavoured hydration powder provides 3g to 4g creatine monohydrate and 500mg sodium per sachet, alongside magnesium, potassium, coconut water powder and vitamins C, D3 and K2. I like using these when travelling as one sachet mixes well with 500ml cold water for a fruity drink.

Raspberry and lemon-lime flavours are available, and subscriptions include money off and a free bottle. It’s a convenient hydration and creatine blend, though it costs considerably more per dose than a plain creatine powder.

Available from:

VivoLife Creatine

Available from Healf (£13.99), VivoLife (£19.99)

VivoLife Creatine

Price per day (recommended dose): 24p

Star rating: 5/5

Best vegan creatine powder

Unflavoured and finely milled, this creatine powder dissolves easily without clumps or aftertaste. Each serving provides 3-5g creatine monohydrate, aligning with recommended use for muscle support. The vegan-certified, third party-tested formula gives reassurance on purity and quality. Though it lacks a scoop, the recyclable packaging is practical. With generous servings and a money-back guarantee, it offers standout value.

Available from:

ESN Ultrapure Creatine Powder

Available from ESN (£17.99)

ESN Ultrapure Creatine Powder

Best unflavoured creatine powder

Price per day (recommended dose): 25p

Star rating: 4.5/5

This creatine powder is a premium, micro-fine creatine monohydrate that dissolves easily in water or shakes and is unflavoured, making it ideal to mix into any drink without altering the taste. It offers high purity and regular lab testing for quality and safety. The neutral profile makes it easy to fit into your daily supplement routine, and it’s suitable for vegans with no added fillers or flavours.

Available from:

Warrior creatine and electrolytes (mixed berry)

Available from Warrior (£19.99), Amazon (£17.99)

Warrior creatine and electrolytes (mixed berry)

Best creatine powder with electrolytes

Price per day (recommended dose): 22p

Star rating: 4.5/5

This creatine powder dissolves well in water and has a pleasant mixed berry flavour that isn't overly sweet or artificial, making it easy to fit into your routine. The addition of electrolytes provides a hydration boost, so it's ideal pre- or post-workout. An unflavoured version is also available if you prefer to add it to shakes. Both are suitable for vegetarians, and it's free from GMOs and sugar.

Available from:

Innermost The Power Booster Creatine

Available from Innermost (£24.95)

Innermost The Power Booster Creatine

Best high-dose creatine powder

Price per day (recommended dose): 33p

Star rating: 4.5/5

Although this wasn’t the cheapest of the supplements, one serving contains 166% of the minimum recommended effective dose. It is flavourless and can be mixed with juice or any workout drink, although wasn’t particularly pleasant to drink when mixed with water. Innermost offers a free 15-minute consultation to anyone with questions about which product is best for them.

Available from:

JSHealth Lean+ Powder Formula

Available from Amazon (£22.99), JSHealth (£44.99)

JSHealth Lean+ Powder Formula

Best creatine powder with probiotics

Price per day (recommended dose): 77p

Star rating: 4.5/5

This pineapple-lime powder combines 5g micronised creatine monohydrate with 200mg Eriomin lemon extract and 10 billion CFU of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis per serving. One 8.5g scoop provides the daily serving and the 255g tub should last 30 days. At 77p per serving, it offers good value for a formula that includes creatine and probiotics.

Taste and mixability were good, it was refreshing and didn't have a chalky texture once mixed.

Available from:

Elite All Blacks Creatine Monohydrate

Available from Healthspan Elite (£35.19)

Elite All Blacks Creatine Monohydrate

Best creatine powder for athletes

Price per day (recommended dose): 44p

Star rating: 4/5

This product is more expensive than most of the powders but the company is part of the Informed Sport organisation which is a third party tester checking for banned substances –which is important if you are competing – and is formulated by the All Blacks nutritionists. It is neutral tasting so it can be mixed with other drinks. It contains 166% of the minimum recommended dose per scoop, so would be less convenient to measure out if you wanted the 3g dose.

Available from:

MyProtein Impact Creatine

Available from MyProtein (£3.99, 100g), MyVegan (£3.99, 100g)

MyProtein Impact Creatine

Best creatine powder for low cost

Price per day (recommended dose): 17p

Star rating: 4/5

This creatine powder offers good value for money but the tropical taste is not going to be to everyone’s liking. It’s very sweet and this can feel a bit overwhelming. The flavour also makes it more difficult to add to any other flavoured workout drinks. It is part of the Informed Sport organisation testing for banned substances.

One serving contains 3g, 100% of the recommendation per day, although the scoop measured out slightly more than this.

Available from:

Ancient + Brave True Creatine +

Available from Ancient + Brave (£28)

Ancient + Brave True Creatine +

Best creatine powder with added minerals

Price per day (recommended dose): 75p

Star rating: 4/5

This was the most expensive of all and although it also contains vitamin D, magnesium and taurine as well, there is no evidence that this will improve its functioning. Each serving contains 200% of the recommended 3g/d. It dissolves well and you can mix it into other drinks with no discernible flavour. The glass jar is good for storage but isn’t practical for carrying around, though Ancient + Brave do offer True Creatine + sachets, if you're likely to be taking creatine on the go. Contains 30 servings.

Available from:

Bulk Creatine HCL

Available from Bulk (£22.99)

Bulk Creatine HCL

Best HCL creatine powder

Price per day (recommended dose): 14p

Star rating: 4/5

A good-value option if you’re looking for creatine HCL, this unflavoured powder contains one ingredient and provides a 3g serving. The 500g resealable pouch gives around 166 servings and the formula is suitable for vegetarians, vegans and halal diets.

The only downside was a very slight acidic and salty taste, which may make it difficult to take in plain water. Mixing it with a stronger-flavoured drink or electrolyte tablet did help. Creatine HCL is more soluble in water than creatine monohydrate and I find that it gives me slightly less of a 'watery' look however results will vary for each user.

Available from:

More creatine supplements tried and tested

How much creatine should I take each day?

Many studies have recommended a 'loading phase' at the beginning of use, where muscles become saturated with creatine by taking a higher dose for a short period – typically 20g, which is split into four doses of 5g, for five days. However, there is accumulating evidence that this is not necessary and a lower daily dose of 3-5g still provides the same benefits.

One early study suggested that taking substantially more than the recommended dose had an adverse effect on the kidneys. However, more than 30 years of studying creatine supplementation has not found any adverse effects if taken at the recommended dose.

People with kidney disease or people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take creatine.

When should I take creatine?

The timing of creatine supplementation around exercise has been widely studied with conflicting results. Although many companies recommend taking creatine pre-workout, there is a lack of evidence to support this.

There are some studies that show taking creatine with carbohydrate or protein may improve retention and utilisation of creatine.
Creatine degrades quickly once dissolved, so it should ideally be mixed with water and then taken as soon as possible.

Early studies suggested that taking creatine and caffeine together may reduce the effect or even be harmful, but this has not been found in more recent studies.

What form of creatine should I take?

Creatine monohydrate is the most widely studied form of creatine and is shown to be very stable and well absorbed. Although other forms can be bought, there is no evidence to suggest that they are better, and some have performed worse in studies.

What format of creatine is best?

Creatine in powder form that you mix with water is readily absorbed and good value for money, but it is quite bulky to carry around and not everyone enjoys the taste. Tablets, capsules or gummies are convenient and taste is less of an issue, but they can be more expensive.

Micronised creatine is more easily dissolved, but there is no evidence that this improves absorption in the body.

Creatine gummies and tablets are not absorbed as quickly as powder as they need to go through digestion. Although they have not been specifically studied for absorption, they contain creatine powder which has a very high absorption rate in the gut. There is no reason to assume they will work differently once digested, but their convenience is offset by the price as they tend to be more expensive.

How long does creatine take to work?

Creatine works by saturating the muscles with stored creatine, which enhances the body’s ability to rapidly produce energy during short bursts of activity.

But, creatine is not fast-acting – it requires time to build up in the muscles before its benefits become noticeable. If you follow a loading phase – consuming typically 20 grams per day split into four doses over five to seven days – you may begin to experience results such as improved strength and power within seven to 10 days.

Without a loading phase, taking a consistent daily dose of three to five grams will achieve full muscle saturation in about three to four weeks. The time it takes to see results can also depend on your diet, training routine and individual body chemistry.

Importantly, creatine's effectiveness increases with regular use and should be paired with consistent exercise for best results. While it doesn't offer instant performance boosts, creatine is well-supported by clinical evidence for long-term gains in strength and endurance.

As with any supplement, speak with a healthcare professional if you have questions about suitability.

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